WRITING FEATURE Neurodivergent Characters, Part 2

In our two-part series on neurodiversity, Louise Gooding talks about her world and experience of writing neurodivergent characters.

I write non-fiction both for picture books and middle grade. My debut book, Just Like Me, 40 neurologically and physically diverse people who broke and challenged stereotypes, will be released March 11th, 2021.

I am a neurodivergent person, which is why I first started writing my book. I have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), as does my youngest. My eldest is autistic and my middle daughter has lived with chronic pain for seven years due to a back condition. I had struggled to find positive representation of neurodivergent or disabled people in children's books. And for some reason, when the ‘diversity in children’s literature’ conversation came up, it still seemed to forget that neurodivergent and disabled people are a marginalised group and are also underrepresented. I wanted to write Just Like Me to start to help bridge that gap.

Being disabled or neurodivergent, brings a whole spectrum of experiences. For example, with myself, I have ADHD but my experience of ADHD will no doubt, always be VERY different from the next person who has ADHD

 

(I’ll be honest, that is a pretty huge statement to make. It’s a mammoth task and I’m lucky to have other amazing authors working hard for better representation for neurodivergent and disabled people: Elle McNicoll, Cerrie Bernell, Ade Adeptain, Halli Gomez and Abigail Balfe to name but a few.) 

Just Like Me was a project that came from my heart. I knew what it was like growing up not seeing anyone like me. To feel different and isolated. So my book is about sharing stories: for kids to see people like them and maybe also people not like them; to get to know a whole new range of diverse and fabulous people and learn about their achievements. We need more stories to be told by a diverse range of people, and I think, most importantly, from 'own voices' perspective.

Why do I think 'own voice' perspective is so important? Being disabled or neurodivergent, brings a whole spectrum of experiences. For example, I have ADHD but my experience of it will no doubt always be VERY different from the next person who has ADHD. How I chose to represent ADHD will be from my own experiences but I also know to be mindful that my story isn’t the only experience. I’m not the voice of ADHD. I’m the voice of my own ADHD. But I do understand the challenges, the journey, the ups and the downs, the inner turmoils and the joys that ADHD can bring. I’m also highly aware that most people associate ADHD with boys. And, with no real surprise then, the books that are out there mainly feature male protagonists: The Boy With The Butterfly Mind, The Trouble with Tiny T, Checkmates to name a few great books, but all with male representation. The trouble we face is that due to prejudices, some folk may also label characters from books as neurodivergent because of what they think ‘these sort of people’ look or act like. 

I’m not the voice of ADHD. I’m the voice of my own ADHD. But I do understand the challenges, the journey, the ups and the downs, the inner turmoils and the joys that ADHD can bring

 

Many have heard me tell the story of the time someone told me they had assumed that Horrid Henry is an OBVIOUS portrayal of a kid with ADHD. He is boisterous, has seemingly no impulse control, is naughty and is a rule-breaker. They used the books too to address ADHD and naughty kids with their own children. This person didn’t have any ill intent, they literally had no real idea about ADHD. But, as a mother, a writer, a reader and a neurodivergent person, it really concerned me. Are we, by not addressing how disabled and neurodivergent people are being represented and making sure there are authentic stories on the market, making people’s own prejudices towards this community worse? How can we help improve this in children’s literature? And how can we make sure that we are providing POSITIVE and AUTHENTIC representation? 

First up, I recommend we all get reading. There are some (not lots) of own voice books available, you could start with some of these: 

• What Happened To You? by James Catchpole (PB) - Disability  
• I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott (PB) - Stutter 
• Can You See Me? by Libby Scott (MG) - Autism  
• El Deafo by Cece Bell (MG) - Deafness 
• Gut Feelings by C.G. Moore (YA) - Chronic Illness 
• The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (YA) - OCD 

 

Please, of course, do your own research, speak to your local librarians and book stores who may be able to show you what else they have in stock. (Also check out the authors I mentioned earlier!) 

If you want to start being more inclusive of disabled and neurodivergent characters in your stories, have a think over the following questions: 

• Are you the right person to write these stories?  
• Have you done your research?  
• Have you spoken to people who have the same disability as the one you are trying to include? 
• If you don’t have lived experience with something, are you ready to take on the responsibility of presenting authentic and positive representation?  
• Is it worth creating a disabled/neurodivergent side character, or are you just putting them in as a token gesture? 

I’m not saying don’t do it, we NEED more stories out there, we need more diversity. But taking on any character from a marginalised group, of which you don't have any lived experience, is a huge responsibility. Yes, we need these characters, but we need them to be really good and authentic. We need to be able to show readers that these characters are normal, they have the same needs and desires as everyone else, they go on adventures, they have crushes, they have friendships, they deal with bullying and they have triumphs and failures. 

Show readers that these characters are normal, they have the same needs and desires as everyone else, they go on adventures, they have crushes, they have friendships, they deal with bullying 

 

And as neurodivergent and disabled people, we don’t need fixing, we don’t need anyone to feel sorry for us, we just want to be included. 

Inclusive Minds

I would highly recommend reaching out to the fabulous people at Inclusive Minds who offer a range of services to make sure that your children’s book, if including diverse characters, is a true, authentic representation of that marginalised group. Whether for disability, neurodivergent groups, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, race or religion. They offer help at any stage and have a range of readers on hand who can give feedback on the different elements of your story from their own lived experiences. This service is available for writers who are not from marginalised backgrounds, but also is great even if you are writing from your own experience and want to double-triple check that the representation you are offering is still being inclusive, and sensitive of others.  

 

  

 

I am neurodivergent but I included disabled people in my book Just Like Me. Should I have done that? 

 

My book is full of short biographies, written after months of reading into these people’s lives and I’m just retelling their stories. It is slightly different to writing a fictional piece and creating authentic characters. The people included in my book have had experiences that are unique to them, their stories are their own. I do however encourage the readers, if they wish to know more about these people, or others, or about the different disabilities or neurodivergent traits, to please go and do further reading. 

The reason the book is called Just Like Me is thanks to my daughter. When she saw me researching Simone Biles, she was delighted to see a successful, strong woman who had ADHD. 'Just Like Me!' she remarked. But her delight didn’t end there. Frida Kahlo was an artist 'Just Like Me', Stephen Hawking had a love for cosmology 'Just Like Me' and Temple Grandin could think in pictures 'Just Like Me'. 
She found so much in common with all these different people, beyond ADHD. She found stories that she could connect with, and people who were inspiring not because of their neurological or physical differences, but because they had great stories. Although… now she also wants to have rainbow hair like Hannah Olateju. We may wait until she is a bit older for that… 

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Louise Gooding has been a member of SCBWI since 2018. She writes non-fiction, both picture books and middle grade. Louise originally took up writing to find a way to discuss neurological and physical diversity, and other sensitive issues within children’s books. You can follow Louise on Twitter and Instagram: @Onceuponalouise  www.louisegooding.com

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Fran Price is part of the Words & Pictures editorial team. Contact her at events@britishscbwi.org.